Latch for elevator gates



A ril 10, 1934. F. H. MOYER LATCH FOR ELEVATOR GATES Filed June 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 v- 15 M y a! W H IN VEN TOR.- Franklin Hilfiger,

A TTORNEYS.

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WITNZZISEES: 4.

April 10, 1934. F, MQYER 1,954,363

LATCH FOR ELEVATOR GATES Filed June 28, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 1K

WITNESSES: 52 I N VEN TOR:

6 6 211 By Euzzirlin Jfjfloya; gilaw fizwfi/w A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to latches for the gates of elevators and the like, and it has reference more particularly to gate latches for passenger elevators in ofiice buildings, hospitals, apartment houses, etc.

Elevators of the kindspecifically referred to are customarily provided with horizontally-sliding collapsible safetygates on the elevator cars and with similar sliding gates to close theelevator shaft openingsat the floor landings, the said gates being opened for entry and exit of the passengers upon arrival of the carsat the landings, .both closingautomatically when the operator removes his hands from them.

The chief aim of mysinvention is to prevent automatic closing of both gates while the elevator is being loaded and unloaded; and this desideratum I attain as hereinafter fully disclosed through provision of simple and easily op erated latch means which is suitably designed for attachment to the elevator cars, and which is characterized by a latch element capable of being moved from a normally retracted position crosswise of the gate on: said elevator car and those of the floor landings, topositively hold said gates against closingduring entry and exit of the passengers. 7

Other objects and attendant advantages of 1 36 this invention will bemanifest from the detailed description following in connection with the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a diagrammatic plan sectional view=of a typical passenger elevator fitted with a gate latch embodying the present improvements. 7 Fig. II is a perspective view showing the latch in operative position and holdingopen the elevator gates.

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II showing the gates partly closed and the latch moved to normal inoperative position.

Fig. IV is a detailcross section taken as indicated by the arrows IV-IV in Fig. I.

Fig. Visa fragmentary detail view showing A the action of stop means arranged to determine an upright normat or idle position for the latch. Fig. Va: is a view similar to Fig; V with the stop means arranged to determine a pendant normal or idle position for the latch.

Figs. VI and VII are fragmentary sectional views cor-responding to Fig. IV showing an alternative embodiment of my improved elevator latch. Fig. VIII isa: perspective view of one of the parts of the alternative embodiment; and

Fig. IX is a transverse'detail sectional view of he latch showing another form of stop means which may be used in lieu of the stop means shown in Figs. I-III.

With more detailed reference first to Figs. I-IV of these illustrations, the numeral comprehensively designates the elevator car which has an entrant opening 11 at the front for registry with the door openings 12 in the elevator shaft wall 13 at the floor landings. After common practice, the elevator car 10 is fitted with a horizontally-sliding collapsible safety gate14. Also after customary practice the openings 12 in the elevator shaft Wall 13 at the floor landings are provided with horizontally sliding gates 15, the one shown being formed of two lapping door sections 15x, 15y. 70

The form of latch means which I have illustrated in Figs. I-IV for holding back the gates 14, 15 after the latter have been opened upon arrival of the car 10 at a floor landing, comprises a split clamp bracket 16, whi h, in the present instance, is fashioned from relatively stout sheet metal with clamp heads 17 of channel section to fit over the opposite sides of the jamb rail 18 along one edge of the entrant opening 11 of said car. A pair of screw bolts: 19 is employed as a means for securing the clamp bracket 16 tightly to the elevator car. Interposed between the spaced sides 20 of the bracket 16, about midway of the length of the same, is a transverse stiffening web 21. As shown, the outer end portion 22 of the bracket 16 and the cross web 21 are centrally pierced for passage of a longitudinal bolt 23 which serves as a fulcrum axis for a latch arm 24.

Like the bracket 16, the latch arm 24 is fashioned from stout sheet metal, and formed with longitudinal stiffening flanges 25 along its opposite side edges. The latch arm 24 is adapted to be swung from a normal vertical retracted position as exemplified in Figs. III and V to the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and II and in dot and dash lines in Fig. V, crosswise of the edges of the gate 14 on the elevator car 10 and the lapped sections 1512, 15y of the gate 15 at the shaft doorway 12, after said gates have been opened upon arrival of the car at a floor landing. When positioned as in Figs. I and II, the arm 24 willobviously prevent the gates l4, 15 from closing automatically or from being closed while passengers enter or leave the elevator car, thereby safeguarding the passengers against injury. In order to limit the swing of the latch arm 24 to a quadrant, I provide a stop projection in the form of a screw stud 26 which may be inserted into any one of four tapped apertures 2'7 at the four corners of the square frontal end of the bracket 16, said stop being adapted for engagement by corner recesses or notches 24st at the fulcrum end of the latch arm. By proper choice between the apertures 27, the stud 26 may be arranged to limit the swing from a normal upright position to' horizontal active position as shown in Figs. I-V, or a normal pendant position may be determined for said arm as shown in full lines in Fig. Vw. Also by the provisions just described it is possible to adapt the latch for use at either side of the elevator opening, thereby obviating separate right and left hand latches which would otherwise be necessary.

In order to yieldingly hold the latch arm 24 normally in its retracted vertical position a springfriction washer 28 is interposed between the transverse web 21 of the bracket 16 and a pair of nuts 29, 30 on the inner end of the fulcrum bolt 23. In practice, the nuts 29, 30 are adjusted to maintain the desired degree of frictional restraint upon the latch arm 24. Preferably a pad P of leather or the like is used on the active face of the latch arm 24 for the purpose of preventing metallic contact with the edges of the gates 14, 15 and thus minimizing noises incident to the operation of the latch.

If desired, the stop 26 may be dispensed with, in which case I resort to the alternative construction shown in Figs. V-VII, wherein, in addition to a plain Washer 28a, a spring friction plate 31 is interposed beneath the nut 30a on the fulcrum bolt 23a to bear against the transverse stiffening web 21a. This friction plate 31 is made to a width corresponding to that of the interval between the sides 20a of the bracket 16a for sliding guidance by the latter, said plate having a vertical slot 32 to clear the fulcrum bolt 23a, and being laterally offset or ridged along its top edge as at 33. With the plate 31 lifted and relaxed as in Fig. V, the bolt 23a is relieved of frictional restraint, and under this circumstance, pressure of the elevator gates is relied upon to maintain the latch arm 24a in the active horizontal position shown in Fig. II to hold said gates open. A. slight push edgewise on the gates will obviously release the latch bolt 23 to fall by gravity to a normal position in suspension and thus permit closing of the gates. When frictional restraint upon the latch arm 23a is desired to hold it yieldingly in any position into which it is placed, the plate 31 is depressed to the position shown in Fig. VI. Incident to such shifting, the plate 31 is flexed by camming action between its ridge 33 and the bevelled top edge 34 of the transverse stiffening web 21a, and so held after said ridge has been advanced along the contiguous face of the web. Obviously, by adjusting the nut 30a, the tension on the plate 31 may be regulated as may be required from time to time to take up for wear. In lifting the plate 31 from the position of Fig. VI to that of Fig. V, a screw driver or other suitable implement may be employed for leverage purposes, the nib or end of the implement being engageable in the hollow of the ridge 33. The other parts of the alternative form of my invention which have not been specifically mentioned but which correspond to like parts in the first described embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals, with the addition in each instance, of the letter a to preclude the necessity for repetitive description.

In the alternative form of stop means shown in Fig. IX, the bolt 23b is formed with two tapped diametric apertures 2% at right angles for selective reception of a stop screw 262) which is adapted to contact with the opposite sides or cheeks 20b of the bracket 16b in limiting the movement of said bolt (and the latch arm) to a quadrant. By proper choice between the apertures 2719, it will be seen that the latch may be variously adapted for use in the diiferent ways mentioned in connection with the stop means shown in Figs. I-V.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A gate latch for elevators with a sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a latch member on the elevator car adapted to be moved outward from a normal retracted position on the elevator car, crosswise of the edges of the gate on the car and the gates of the floor and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator.

2. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a latch arm fulcrumed to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the car and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator.

3. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontal- 1y sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to one edge of the entrant opening of the car, and a latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator.

4. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a frictionally-restrained latch arm fulcrumed to one edge of the entrant opening of the car with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator.

5. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar sliding gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a frictionally-restrained latch arm fulcrumed to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normany-retracted vertical position crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and means for limiting the movement of the latch arm to a quadrant degree.

6. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate for the elevator car and with sirnilar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a split bracket clampable over one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car, and a latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and of the gates at the floor landings to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator.

7. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar sliding gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a bracket attachable to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car, a frictionally-restrained latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally-retracted vertical position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and a stop on the bracket to limit the swinging movement of the arm to a quadrant.

8. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car, and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a split bracket clampable over one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car, a frictionally-restrained latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normallyretracted vertical position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings to prevent said gates from closing while the passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and a stop on the bracket to limit the swing of the latch arm to a quadrant.

9. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to one edge of the entrant opening of the car, a latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator and adjustable means for restraining movement of the latch arm.

10. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to one edge of the entrant opening of the car, a latch arm fulcrumed on the bracket with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted position, crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings, to prevent said gates from closing While passengers are entering or leaving the elevator and friction means for restraining movement of the latch arm, said means being releasable to permit the arm to swing free.

11. A gate latch for elevators with horizontally sliding gates on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car, a latch arm connected to the bracket by a screw bolt with capacity to be swung outward from a normal vertical position crosswise of the car and landing gates to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and a spring plate interposed between a nut on the screw bolt and a contiguous surface of the bracket and having a ridge at one edge thereof adapted to bear against the surface to flex the plate when frictional restraint is desired in the latch bolt, said plate being shiftable so that the ridge may be brought beyond the surface to relieve the friction when free swinging action of the latch bolt is desired.

12. A gate latch for elevators with a horizontally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar sliding gates at the elevator shaft openings at the floor landings, comprising a latch arm fulcrumed to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted vertical position crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates at the floor landings to prevent said gates from closing while the passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and means for limiting the movement of the latch arm to a quadrant, said means being arrangeable to determine either an upright or pendant normal idle position for the latch arm, and to adapt the latch for use at either the right hand or left hand side of the elevator.

13. A gate latch for elevators with a horizon-- tally sliding gate on the elevator car and with similar sliding gates at the elevator shaft openings at the floor landings, comprising a latch arm fulcrumed to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car with capacity to be swung horizontally outward from a normally retracted vertical position crosswise of the gate of the elevator car and the gates of the floor landings and so prevent said gates from closing while the passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and means for limiting the movement of the latch arm to a quadrant, including a stud adapted to be engaged by notches in the fulcrum end of the arm, said. stud being selectively engageable with a number of openings around the fulcrum axis in a fixed part attached to the elevator car for determination of either an upright or pendant normally idle position for the latch arm and to make possible the adaptation of the latch for use at either the right hand or the left hand side of the elevator.

14. A gate latch for elevators with horizontally sliding gates on the elevator car and with similar gates at the elevator shaft openings of the floor landings, comprising an open bracket with means for attaching it to one edge of the entrant opening of the elevator car, a latch arm with a fulcrum shaft extending into the hollow of the bracket for capacity to be swung outward from a normal vertical position crosswise of the car and landing gates to prevent said gates from closing while passengers are entering or leaving the elevator, and means to limit the movement of the latch arm to a quadrant, including a stud selectively insertable into diametric apertures and right angles through the fulcrum. shaft within the hollow of the bracket aforesaid and adapted to engage opposite sides of the bracket whereby either an upright or pendant normal position may be determined for the arm, and the latch adapted for use at either the right hand or left hand side of the elevator.

FRANKLIN H. MOYER. 

